Impavido approved to treat tropical parasitic disease

March 20th, 2014 in Medications /

(HealthDay)—Impavido (miltefosine) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with leishmaniasis, a tropical disease caused by a parasite that's transmitted by the bites of sand flies.

Most Americans who contract the disease do so traveling overseas, the agency said in a news release.

The drug's safety and effectiveness were evaluated in clinical trials involving more than 700 people. Impavido's label will include a boxed warning that the medication could harm a developing fetus and shouldn't be taken by pregnant women.